​Energy-efficiency Curriculum for 6th to 8th Grade Students

This year, changes have been made to the Powerful Choices for the Environment program. A transitioned version of the curriculum—still focusing on air quality, land resources, water conservation and energy efficiency—is available below for teachers to download.

Curriculum synopsis

Students explore the links between their personal choices and the health of the Puget Sound ecosystem. Through activities that are multi-sensory, including games that simulate real-life choices, students study the impact of their transportation choices, purchasing choices, water use and electricity use on the Puget Sound ecosystem. As students grapple with complex environmental issues, they explore the difference between resource use and resource waste.

Air

Students begin the study of air quality by looking at the effect of air pollution on human lungs and reviewing major sources of air pollution in the Puget Sound. Students learn how the Air Quality Index measures the quality of air in the Puget Sound.

Land

Students apply their deeper understanding of the meaning of ecosystem to the quality of the land. Students are challenged to think about the resources used to make everyday items. As students discuss the resources needed to produce a pair of tennis shoes, they learn the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources.

Water

In the third segment of the program, students examine the world's water supply and discuss how much of the Earth's water is fresh, clean drinking water.

Electricity

In the final section of curriculum, students relate their understanding of the health of the ecosystem to their electricity use. Students begin the day by learning how electricity is made.

Curriculum conclusion and wrap-up

At the end of the program, students revisit the question: "What are the connections between my personal choices and the health of the Puget Sound ecosystem?" Students write down as a pledge, choices they are willing to make that will make a difference in the health of the Puget Sound Ecosystem. The program comes to a close in the spirit of empowering students through their conservation choices to create a healthy ecosystem into the future.